BF Classified: 1975 MGB Roadster

Asking: $7,900Make Offer

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Seller: David B rill (Contact)
Location: Berlin, Connecticut
Mileage: 75,000 Shown
Chassis #: GHN5VF3840216
Title Status: Clean
Engine: 1800 Inline 4-Cylinder
Transmission: 4-Speed Manual

There are cheaper ways to buy a convertible, and there are faster ways to enjoy a winding back road, but few cars deliver the simple, mechanical fun of an MGB. This 1975 example adds several qualities that are becoming increasingly difficult to find: original Harvest Gold paint, more than twenty years with its current owner, a reportedly rust-free body, wire wheels, and a few well-chosen performance upgrades. Located in Berlin, Connecticut, it is offered as a Barn Finds Classified with a clean title and an asking price of $7,900.

The seller purchased this MGB locally roughly twenty years ago, although it is believed to have originally come from the South. Its Harvest Gold finish is said to be original and still presents well after five decades. There are chips and other age-related imperfections, along with a couple of dents in the hood from it being closed incorrectly, but the car has escaped the extensive corrosion that can turn an inexpensive MGB into an expensive restoration.

The seller describes the body as rust- and rot-free. There is some surface rust beneath the driver’s floor mat and on a few suspension components, but the underside photos suggest this British roadster has survived better than many of its contemporaries. The rubber bumpers remain in good condition, while a lower front fairing and wire wheels added by a previous owner give the car a slightly sportier appearance.

The black vinyl interior is also largely original. The driver’s seat has a tear in the outer bolster and a small hole in the cushion, and a mouse left two small holes in the headrest covers. A Moto-Lita steering wheel was installed early in the current owner’s stewardship and provides a more purposeful view from the driver’s seat.

The folding top has rarely been used during the seller’s ownership. Its rear windows are somewhat stiff and yellowed, and there are two small tears where the material passes over the top-frame rails. However, the MGB has reportedly avoided wet-weather use, and the seller notes that the top’s rear windows may respond well to polishing.

The real reason to consider this MGB is found beneath the hood. Its 1.8-liter inline-four is fitted with a sidedraft two-barrel Mikuni carburetor, a stainless-steel header, and a two-inch stainless exhaust system. The seller says that a couple of pumps of the accelerator, a pull of the choke, and a turn of the key bring the engine quickly to life, with oil pressure registering between 50 and 70 PSI.

The exhaust is described as producing a low, mellow note rather than an obnoxious drone. Power reaches the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission, and the seller states that the car shifts easily, drives well, and stops properly through front disc and rear drum brakes. The engine is also said to be clean and to leak very little oil, which is an encouraging claim for any classic British automobile.

Most of the electrical equipment functions, including the gauges, emergency flashers, headlights, heater fan, horn, and passenger-side turn signal. The driver-side signal does not currently work, although its bulbs illuminate, suggesting the problem may be related to the flasher unit. The windshield wipers are also inoperative. Routine maintenance has been performed during the current ownership, and the alternator and fuel pump have been replaced. The odometer shows 75,000 miles, although actual mileage is unknown. Included in the sale are several MG manuals, the original jack, a knock-off tool and hammer, and a full tonneau cover.

This MGB is not a freshly restored showpiece, and that may be its greatest strength. Its original paint, age-related marks, and largely stock interior mean the next owner should be able to drive it without worrying about every stone chip or parking-lot blemish. Meanwhile, the Mikuni carburetor, stainless exhaust, wire wheels, and Moto-Lita steering wheel add just enough character to make every trip feel special.

At $7,900, this 1975 MGB offers an affordable route into classic sports-car ownership. Drop the top, listen to the stainless exhaust, and take the long way home! Isn’t that what owning a little British roadster is all about?